Upgrading the ACME electron EDM search with a molecular lens*

Measurements~of the electron~electric dipole moment (EDM) using cold molecules~set very powerful constraints on T-violating new physics beyond the Standard Model. The best upper limit on the electron EDM was recently set by the ACME collaboration: \textbar de\textbar \textless 1.1E-29 e\textbullet cm [Nature~562,~355 (2018)], using thorium~monoxide (ThO). A major upgrade in statistics for next generation of ACME is now underway, using a molecular lens to focus molecule flux into the EDM measurement region. Here, we report the first measurements [arXiv:1911.03015] of relevant properties of the Q state, which appears ideal for molecular lensing. Also, we demonstrate a double-STIRAP procedure that transfers population into and out of the Q state with 90{\%} efficiency. These combined with trajectory simulations on an electrostatic hexapole allow us to project a signal rate improvement by over an order of magnitude relative to an unfocused molecular beam.